Tan Chuan-Jin
Singapore
“A step-parent who wishes to leave any part of his or her estate to a stepchild is encouraged to make a will. Intestacy law would apply in cases where a person passes on without a will.”
“Last year, we reviewed and extended the Child Development Account, or CDA benefits to children of unwed parents. The Government granted CDA benefits, to children of unwed parents born, or with an estimated date of delivery, from 1 September 2016. It is generally good practice to implement our policies prospectively.”
“The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) does not track the number of persons who choose to remain homeless instead of being admitted into shelters. When MSF receives information on persons who may be homeless, we initiate contact with these persons on the ground to offer assistance.”
“Our law places the child's welfare and interests at the heart of an adoption decision. We must not forget that such an adoption is a life-changing event because when an unwed mother adopts her child, the duties, obligations and liabilities of the biological father are terminated.”
“The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) works closely with the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to plan for preschools in upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) developments, including Bidadari new town. To better meet the needs of young parents, new preschools will have larger capacities and also be completed earlier where possible.”
“The Silver Support Scheme under the Manpower Ministry provides an income supplement to seniors who had low incomes through life and who now have little or no family support. Beyond ComCare, we are also expanding upstream intervention to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable families and their children to set a good foundation.”
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“Allow me to, first, emphasise that every suicide, whether amongst youths, the middle-aged or the elderly, is one too many. It is very sad, and we should endeavour to prevent them when we can. A number of local studies have been done on suicide in the young. The common reasons for teen suicides in Singapore are interpersonal relationship and family issues, as well as social stressors. As the causes of suicides are often complex and multi-faceted, we do want to take a whole-of-Government approach in dealing with suicides in the young. These include efforts from agencies such as the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), the Health Promotion Board (HPB), the Ministry of Education (MOE), and my Ministry. Psychological resilience is crucial when youths face circumstances that overwhelm them. Within the school environment, HPB runs a series of psycho-emotional programmes to equip students with skills to manage stress and emotions, build positive and supportive relationships with peers, and recognise when and where to seek help. Students may also be referred to school counsellors, community agencies and mental health professionals such as the Child Guidance Clinic in the IMH, where necessary. Parents are alerted when required. MOE will further elaborate on its strategy to care for the socio-emotional well-being of students. Outside of the schools, there is a strong network of community partners that have important roles in preventing teen suicide. Healthcare and social service professionals are trained to identify and intervene appropriately when they come into contact with higher-risk individuals, such as those with a history of suicidal and self-harming behaviours.”
“Mdm Speaker, if I may take the next two questions together, please.”
“Anyone who is aware of a child being or is at risk of being abused, can help by reporting it.”
“In 2015, my Ministry's Child Protective Service investigated 551 cases of child abuse and neglect. This number was higher than the 300 to 400 cases investigated in the previous three years. One reason for this trend is that there is better detection and reporting by professionals, such as social workers and teachers, as a result of our investment in strengthening the capabilities of our partners. A second reason is that we have expanded our role and redefined the criteria for assessing when a case would be taken up for investigation. About 20 of the children involved in our investigations last year were admitted to hospital for medical treatment for their injuries. There were two fatalities arising from child abuse between 2013 and 2015. My Ministry has invested in strengthening the capabilities of professionals such as teachers, healthcare and social workers, to detect abuse and intervene appropriately. For instance, we have developed sector-wide guidelines to have clarity and consistency in how professionals would screen for child abuse, and regular training on the use of these guidelines. In schools, for instance, teachers will alert school counsellors and, if necessary, my Ministry's Child Protective Service, to provide support to students who show signs of distress or possible abuse. For better detection and early intervention, we have established interagency networks, such as the Inter-Ministry Workgroup on Child Protection and put in place clear processes for schools, community agencies and hospitals for reporting suspected abuse. To further reduce the instances of child abuse that go undetected, the Government will continue ongoing efforts in public education and community outreach. Preventing child abuse is everyone's responsibility.”
“From 2006 to 2015, there was a drop in the number of babies born each year to citizen mothers who were not married to the father of the child at the point of birth registration. The further breakdown by whether the father's name is reflected in the birth certificate is shown in the table below.”
“Developmental paediatricians recommend that two to three years old is an optimal age range to diagnose moderate and severe forms of autism, as the symptoms may not be evident in children below that age. Milder cases of autism may not be diagnosed till the child is older. The Ministry of Health issues every child born in Singapore with a Health Booklet that records their immunisation history and developmental screening progress. The Health Booklet includes developmental screening checklists at four to eight weeks, three to five months, six to 12 months, 15-18 months, two to three years and four to six years. Red flags for developmental conditions, including autism, are incorporated in the screening checklists. Parents and caregivers would most likely be the first to realise if the child has developmental issues and can use the developmental milestones in the Health Booklet as reference points to guide them. In addition, when healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses in the polyclinics, paediatricians and general practitioners, detect delays in the child's development during screenings and medical check-ups, they can refer the children to the Child Development Programme in the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and National University Hospital (NUH) for diagnosis of developmental concerns. Parents who suspect that their children might be facing developmental delays can take their children to the nearest polyclinic or the Department of Child Development at KKH or NUH for assessment. Children who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism will be referred to the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children for early intervention services.”
“Over the last three years, over 90% of Singaporean children aged five to six years were enrolled in preschools. By age six, close to 99% of Singaporean children would have some preschool experience. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) works with the community to reach out to Singaporean children who are not attending preschool by age five. Our community outreach partners conduct home visits to understand the family's situation and work closely with the family to overcome the barriers to the child's preschool participation. There are various profiles of children not attending preschool, due either to their family's circumstances or preferences. For example, there are those who are living overseas, or whose parents prefer other options for their child's development, such as home-schooling, enrichment classes or specialised interventions. There are also children from more disadvantaged backgrounds. We recognise the importance of the preschool years in a child's development, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, it is also important to preserve some parental choice and involvement in the type of experience a child has at preschool. Hence, rather than a broad policy of compulsory education at the preschool years, our approach is to ensure the provision of accessible, affordable and good quality preschool services, with proactive outreach and targeted assistance for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. In line with this approach, ECDA has started to progressively roll out KidSTART, a new initiative to reach out to and ensure that children from low-income and vulnerable families have early access to appropriate health, learning and developmental support, including attending quality preschool.”
“Operationally, the National Family Violence Networking System enables close collaboration and management of abuse among my Ministry, the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Prison Service, the Courts, hospitals and Family Service Centres. My Ministry also monitors high-risk cases, such as siblings of abused children, and partners professionals to put in place a safety and case plan for soon-to-be delivered babies in families with a history of abuse. We will continue to work with the community to strengthen the preventive and monitoring efforts for at-risk children. There were instances where child abuse went undetected and unreported. To address this, we have invested in public education and outreach efforts to encourage members of the public to report to the ComCare Call helpline at 1800-222-0000 if they are aware of child abuse or if a child is at risk of being abused.”
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment free from abuse and neglect. Apart from taking upstream measures to strengthen families, my Ministry's Child Protective Service has invested in strengthening the capabilities of our partners to detect abuse and intervene appropriately. For instance, we have, over the years, introduced better screening tools and training for professionals, such as teachers, social workers and healthcare workers, to pick up early warning signs and either connect the families with community-based help or escalate the case to the Ministry for intervention. In our intervention in a case of child abuse or neglect, we strike a balance between keeping the family together and ensuring the immediate safety of the child. Where feasible and the safety of the child is not compromised, we prefer to keep the family together. For such cases, we would work with the relevant professionals and the child's family to put in place a safety and case plan. Such a plan could include having a suitable family member as the main caregiver to watch over the child, or the family taking steps to ensure the alleged perpetrator does not spend time alone with the child. If the child's caregiver has mental health or substance abuse issues, we would refer the caregiver for treatment. The aim is to minimise the risk of future harm to the child. In serious instances, we would have to make the difficult decision of removing a child from his home and placing him in alternative arrangements, such as kinship or foster care. The monitoring and combating of abuse are done at the policy and planning levels through the Inter-Ministry Workgroup on Child Protection.”
“Mdm Speaker, this achievement by Joseph Schooling is truly history in the making for our nation. It serves to inspire all of us that no matter our personal circumstances, as long as we put our minds to the task, the sky is the limit. With this, I would like to ask the House to give their whole-hearted support for this Motion. [Applause.] [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, that this House congratulates Joseph Isaac Schooling on his achievements at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. (proc text)] [(proc text) Thereupon, hon Members stood to their feet and applauded. (proc text)]”
“So long as you have the passion for it, put in the hard work, we are able to achieve something really great." This is the first Olympic Gold for Singapore and it comes just after our SG50 celebrations last year. As we embark on a new chapter of nation-building for the next 50 years, this represents an important first step in this first year in the journey of our next 50 years. It is a historic achievement that exemplifies the Singapore spirit. Our "never-say-die" attitude and our determination to persevere and succeed against tough odds. To quote Joseph, "This record shows that even people from the smallest countries in the world can do extraordinary things." Joseph and all our sporting heros have inspired us with their achievements. With the same grit and spirit, we can rally together as One Team Singapore to do extraordinary things for many, many more years to come. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [Applause.] [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Joseph is one amongst many athletes who have flown our flag over the years. They have all sought to bring honour and glory to our nation and to scale the highest peaks. This year, we have 25 Olympians and 12 Paralympians who are exceptional athletes and an inspiration to all of us. The Olympics and Paralympics are the world's pinnacle sporting events. To qualify for the Games is already an immense achievement and they have all done Singapore very proud. Next month, our Paralympians, including Pin Xiu, will be taking over the torch in Rio. These are individuals who have overcome the toughest challenges in life despite their disabilities and are aiming to go one step further to bring sporting glory to Singapore. They are all champions in their own right. So, I would also like to congratulate all our Team Singapore athletes for their extraordinary feats. I hope they will inspire a new generation of sporting talents who are unafraid to chase their dreams and to work hard to achieve their goals. I hope and know that all Singaporeans will continue to give them our fullest support, especially for those who are still competing in Rio. I believe Joseph's win can inspire young Singaporeans to chase the rainbow and go after their dreams, even in areas apart from sports. The journey may be difficult and will require hard work and sacrifice, but with hard work, grit and determination, we can achieve great things. For example, the media reported how the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) family did a "live" screening of Joseph's swim for about 500 students and teachers. One of the Year 5 students, Ken Zhang, said later that Schooling's victory is an inspiration to everyone. He said, "Regardless of what sports we do, he's an inspiration to all of us.”
“The support from Sport Singapore and the Singapore National Olympic Council, along with his scholarship in the University of Texas, has provided Joseph the best possible environment for Joseph to perform to his best. I would also like to acknowledge the Ministry of Defence for deferring Joseph's National Service commitments, so that he could concentrate on doing well in Rio, which he did with flying colours. It was wonderful to see the entire nation rallying behind Joseph and our Olympians, and celebrating together as one Team Singapore. As Joseph put it, "This moment is not about me. It is for my country, my friends, my family and all those people who supported me and believed in me." We saw this at the Southeast Asian Games last year, when Joseph won nine Gold medals on home soil to deafening cheers from the stands. The Rio Olympics may be nearly 16,000 kilometres away, but Singaporeans from all walks of life were there in spirit and offered numerous messages of support and encouragement to Joseph and to our many athletes who are competing there. Last Friday morning, many students and working adults alike paused what they were doing just to catch Joseph compete in the semi-finals. And on Saturday morning, the whole of Singapore came to a standstill for a minute. All our eyes were glued to the TV screens. We were all gripped by a sense of excitement, anticipation and, finally, pure ecstasy and national pride as our sporting hero touched home in record-breaking time. Joseph's Olympic Gold medal marks a milestone in Singapore's sporting history, and also a new beginning. It adds to the Paralympics Gold medal won by Yip Pin Xiu in Beijing in 2008. We must build on this success to strengthen our culture of sports and make Singapore a sporting nation.”
“It takes great courage, passion and determination to say, "Yes, I want to be an Olympian and I will do whatever it takes." That was exactly the kind of resolve we see in Joseph, who has put in hour after hour of training through the years and is now breaking record after record. It takes a village to raise an Olympic champion, they say. But above all, it takes their family. Joseph's number one fans and supporters are undoubtedly his parents, Colin and May. They dedicated their lives to supporting Joseph's Olympic dream. They made huge sacrifices to provide the fullest support possible to help their son realise his dreams. They were with Joseph every step of the way; they always believed in him, and cheered him on at all his swim meets. Colin, as well as Joseph's grand-uncle Lloyd Valberg, were our national sportsmen as well – in softball and athletics respectively. In fact, Mr Valberg was Singapore's first-ever Olympian and he inspired Joseph to pursue sporting excellence, while embracing the values of dedication, hard work, discipline and resilience. We thank the Singapore Swimming Association and head coach Sergio Lopez, too, for all their efforts. In the past 18 months, Sergio has been instrumental in grooming our top swimming talents, including Quah Zheng Wen, who entered the semi-finals for two events in Rio. Sergio had also coached Joseph during his time at the Bolles School. Joseph now trains under Eddie Reese at the University of Texas who joined Sergio on the coaching staff at Rio. As a recipient of the spexScholarship offered by Sport Singapore, Joseph was able to train full-time with a holistic system of support, including access to advanced sports medicine and sports science services.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That this House congratulates swimmer Joseph Isaac Schooling on his achievements at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games." Before I begin, if I may, I would like to acknowledge the presence of and to welcome Colin, May and Joseph Schooling. [Applause] On 13 August, Saturday morning in Singapore, history was made. Almost halfway around the globe, at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio, 21-year-old Joseph Schooling powered his way to Singapore's first-ever Olympic Gold medal in the Men's 100-metre Butterfly Swimming event. He did so in style, besting former Olympic champions Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh. He even broke the Olympic Record, set eight years ago by Phelps. When Majulah Singapura was played for the first time at an Olympic Games, it was really quite an emotional experience for our President and all of us who were there. It was a moment of great national pride not just for Joseph and his family, but for our entire nation. Singaporeans everywhere watching this moment on TV sang the anthem together with Joseph. I believe for years to come, Singaporeans will remember this moment when the Singapore flag flew highest and our national anthem rang out on the Olympic stage. It has been far from an easy journey. Joseph had to put in a tremendous amount of hard work and made many personal sacrifices. But this did not deter him at all. In fact, his father Colin Schooling remembered a time when he was woken up at 4.00 am by Joseph, for swimming practice. Joseph was just eight years old then. From a young age, Joseph already had the mindset of a champion. He had big dreams and the determination to make it happen. When Joseph was 14 years old, he left Singapore to train at the renowned Bolles School in the United States.”
“Beyond expanding current services, MSF will work with our partners to develop a continuum of services for children with different needs and to train a multi-disciplinary team of preschool teachers, LSEds, therapists and psychologists to support more children with special needs in the learning environment that is most appropriate for their development.”
“Today, preschools may accept children with mild to moderate developmental delays and who may benefit from integration into the mainstream environment. To support this,MSF funds the Development Support Programme (DSP) at more than 300 preschools. Under DSP, therapists and specially-trained Learning Support Educators (LSEds) provide targeted learning and development for the children and also work with the main teacher during classes to integrate the child in a group setting. We will expand the DSP to 30 more centres this year. Page: 106 In addition, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has been collaborating with training institutes to provide subsidised modular Continuing Professional Development courses to equip pre-school teachers with the skillsets to support pre-school children with developmental needs. Given the diversity of needs, ECDA does not prescribe a specific staff-child ratio for preschools with these children. However, preschools with these children are able to deploy more teachers if needed. Preschools are also encouraged to work with the child’s parents and developmental specialists for the child’s development. For children with more severe needs, there are currently 17 Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) centres supporting some 2,600 children in their developmental needs. The EIPIC centres also support the integration of children into mainstream preschools. MSF will increase the capacity to 3,200 places by 2018.”
“The Senior Group Homes (SGHs) promote ageing-in-place for frail seniors without family support and living in HDB rental flats. Each Home comprises five to eight rental flats, and each flat is shared among two to three seniors. MSF appoints VWOs to coordinate and provide services, such as home-care services, to the residents. The seniors are also encouraged to participate in social activities and to provide mutual support to one another. There are currently 14 SGHs, of which, 11 started operations from late 2015. The Homes can accommodate up to 250 seniors. As at end April 2016, 39 seniors are residing at the SGHs. MSF is working with MOH and other partners to improve coordination of care options in the community, to enable seniors to age-in-place.”
“Under this scheme, all persons with permanent disabilities will receive 25% off bus and train travel. Private transport options, such as taxis and dedicated transport, are subsidised through the Taxi Subsidy Scheme and the Voluntary Welfare Organisation Transport Subsidies (VWOTS) and these are means-tested. Under the current means-test criteria, up to two-thirds of households in Singapore would be able to meet the scheme’s income criteria. Such an approach has enabled us to channel limited resources to persons who need them most. In addition to end-user subsidies, the Ministry has also awarded grants to three transport operators serving persons with disabilities in 2015 to help keep transport cost low for dedicated transport users. The subsidised transport rates offered by funded transport operators are available to all PwDs, regardless of their income level.”
“Persons with Disabilities (PwD)s, including those with intellectual disabilities, are supported through a range of early intervention, education, employment and care services. From the time a child is assessed as special needs, they will be supported through the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) and, in the school-going years, at Special Education (SPED) schools which offer customised education programmes for children with intellectual disability. SPED schools also train and help the transition to employment in the later years. Persons with intellectual disabilities can acquire relevant skills and receive job matching and support services from SG Enable and its VWO partners, such as the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). Persons with intellectual disabilities can also receive a range of care services from Drop-in Disability Programmes, Day Activity Centres (DACs) and home-based care. DACs equip persons with disabilities with living skills to enhance their independence. We are in the process of adding 600 new DAC places by 2018 to provide this service. Caregivers hiring a foreign domestic worker (FDW) to care for PwDs requiring assistance with their daily activities are eligible to pay a lower monthly FDW Levy. Caregivers of PwDs with moderate to severe disability can separately receive a monthly FDW Grant should their monthly per capita household income be less than $2,600. In addition to the care services and FDW Levy concession and Grant, caregivers of PwDs can also apply for a Caregivers’ Training Grant each year to attend training on caregiving or self-care skills. Page: 105 Public Transport subsidies are provided to all PwDs today through the Public Transport Concession Scheme and are not means-tested.”
“It may also have the unintended consequence of driving over-consumption and, hence, raising demand, so parents truly in need of childcare might find it difficult to secure a place. We will continue to monitor and review our measures to ensure quality childcare remains accessible and affordable, as part of a range of measures to support the parenthood aspirations of Singaporeans.”
“We understand that childcare costs are a concern to many young parents. Our approach is for the Government to play a strong supporting role by defraying parts of the child-raising costs, including subsidising childcare. Initiatives to help parents manage the costs of child-raising include Baby Bonus, tax benefits and housing, and medical grants. In particular, the Government recently enhanced the Child Development Account (CDA) by introducing the CDA First Step, which provides the first $3,000 of Government contributions, without parents having to save first. CDA funds can be used to pay for the education and healthcare needs of the child, including childcare fees. The Early Childhood Development Agency also works to ensure childcare remains affordable for families. This is achieved in two ways. First, centres under the Anchor Operator and Partner Operator schemes are subject to fee caps. Today, over 40% of Singaporean children enrolled in childcare are in these centres, which is a significant increase from about 20% in 2012. Page: 104 Second, through basic and means-tested childcare subsidies, which were enhanced in 2013. This allows lower-income families to pay as little as $3 per month. Parents can also use money in their CDAs to pay for the balance of the fees. Through these enhancements, we have significantly increased Government spending on early childhood. We spent about $600 million on pre-school related efforts last year, which is more than one-and-a-half times what we spent in 2012. This approach keeps childcare affordable, while allowing parents to choose from a variety of options according to their preferences. Conversely, provision of free childcare may limit the range of childcare programmes available to parents and result in a higher burden to taxpayers.”
“In 2015, over 90% of Singaporean and permanent resident children aged five to six years were enrolled in half-day or full-day pre-schools. Some Singaporean and permanent resident children may not attend pre-school due to their family's circumstances. For example, there are those who are living overseas, or whose parents prefer other options for their child's development. By age six, close to 99% of Singaporean children would have had some pre-school experience. We recognise the importance of the pre-school years in a child's development, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. As such, ECDA works actively with the community to reach out to Singaporean children who are not attending pre-school by age five. Our community outreach partners conduct home visits and work closely with the family to overcome some of the barriers to the child's pre-school participation. KidSTART, a new initiative announced at this year's Budget, will further enhance efforts to reach out to and ensure children from low-income and vulnerable families have early access to appropriate health, learning and developmental support, including attending quality pre-school. We will pilot KidSTART in the second half of 2016.”
“With the support and partnership of the people, private and public sectors, we can all, together, build a more inclusive society in Singapore in time to come. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." (proc text)] Adjourned accordingly at 5.34 pm. Page: 70”
“Sometimes, I do notice that parents, rather than wanting to burden the siblings, take on the responsibility themselves. But I think it is important to involve the siblings in the process because when they pass on, it is not always a given that the siblings necessarily will step forward and play their role. This is something that is important. But beyond that, what can we do to support parents and to assure them? To address this concern, the Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC) was set up in 2008 to provide trust management services for families of persons with disabilities. SNTC provides an avenue for caregivers to plan for the long-term financial and care needs of persons with disabilities. Along with SNTC, we set up the Special Needs Savings Scheme which was established in 2012 to enable parents to set aside CPF savings for the long-term care of their Children with Disabilities. We will continue to explore avenues to further help address the concerns of caregivers on these matters. So, please do continue to provide us feedback from the families who have concerns on this front. I would like to conclude by saying credit to those in the sector who have been actively pushing for these issues to improve. While much work has been done to help the caregivers and persons with disabilities, very clearly, there is still room for improvement. As we work through the next Enabling Masterplan, we hope to address the various concerns faced by the caregivers of persons with disabilities and build on what we have done. What I have mentioned is but a brief overview of some of the areas that we are currently working on. The Enabling Masterplan aims to examine these issues and we will provide an update when the Enabling Masterplan recommendations are ready.”
“In terms of subsidies for care services and transportation, caregivers who are accessing care services, such as Day Activity Centres, Home-based care services and the Drop-in Disability Programme, it is also important for us to support the effort to get there. So, they receive continued support from the Government through means-tested subsidies which can defray up to 80% of their costs. Also, persons with disabilities who are accessing educational or care services can tap on dedicated transport. For example, SPED schools are also supported through transport assistance under the VWO Transport Subsidy Scheme. Eligible persons with disabilities may receive transport subsidies of up to 80% of their monthly transport fares. In addition, persons with disabilities receive 25% concession on fares on public transport. In terms of schemes and support for caregivers, caregivers are supported through both subsidy schemes to defray the cost of services, as well as through care-giver support centres at VWOs and within SPED schools. Caregivers who require the assistance of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to care for persons with disabilities with their activities of daily living are eligible to pay a lower monthly FDW levy. Families whose monthly per capita income is less than $2,600 are supported through a monthly FDW Grant to offset the cost of a foreign domestic worker. Caregivers can also enhance their care skills with the support of the Caregivers' Training Grant. The last theme is about supporting persons with disabilities beyond the caregivers' lifetime. Page: 69 Many parents are anxious as to what is going to happen after they have passed on. One of the things I would very much urge parents to do is to also involve the rest of the family.”
“In addition, we are exploring with VWOs to enable day activity centre programming in the community with the help of volunteers meaning that we do not need to have centre activities at the Day Activity Centre itself but that there are other ways in which we can carry that out. A lot of it is providing knowledge, especially to families, because if they feel they are relatively inadequate and the only way to provide some of the support is to send their children to the Day Activity Centres, but they do not realise that there are things that they can do at home or within the community. These activities will enable the community to support persons with disabilities and their families living in their neighbourhood and, in many ways, like an extended family, or an extended Day Activity Centre, if you will. The community at large can certainly play a bigger role in lending their support for such initiatives, firstly, by acceptance and, secondly, to reach out to these groups. This may be a small step for the community but I think it is a very significant step forward in our effort to build an inclusive society. We will continue to press ahead with the expansion of capacity and relevant services so that persons with disabilities can be better served. I agree with Mr Murali in terms of the waiting times, not just for Day Activity Centres, but for various special needs schools and so on. In some cases, the wait is longer than we desire. If I were a parent of a special needs child, and especially where we believe that early intervention will make a difference, it is very anxious – every month that we wait. We wish that, if intervention had come earlier, it would have made that additional amount of difference. We will endeavour to bring those timings down.”
“Employment is an important platform to helping persons with disabilities gain independence and SG Enable was set up in 2013 precisely to also promote the employment of persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities seeking employment assistance and training courses that will help increase their employability can approach SG Enable – and please do so. Persons with disabilities can benefit from the job-readiness assessment conducted by specialists on job placement and job support. SG Enable actively engages employers and seeks to encourage them to make employment opportunities available for persons with disabilities. Sixth, it is important in terms of care services, especially for caregivers. We are also mindful of the rising number of adults with autism and the need for the services to be expanded to meet the Page: 68 demand. Our Ministry will be expanding the range of home and community care options to meet the needs of the various groups. We are currently on track to add 200 more day care places by 2018 for Day Activity Centres specifically catering to persons with autism. As we expand the capacity of our services, we are also mindful of the quality and capability of staff rendering these services. MSF will continue to assess the training needs of staff working with persons with disabilities and work on the professional development of the staff with relevant training agencies and experts in the field. VWOs also share best practices and knowledge with one another, and also hear from experts from relevant fields of practice at networking platforms organised by MSF and NCSS.”
“We are very aware of their concerns regarding the limited options that persons with disabilities have after graduating from SPED schools. We are currently studying the opportunities to increase the post-18 range of options. Efforts are underway to strengthen the transition from SPED schools to work. MOE, MSF and SG Enable have started the School-to-Work (S2W) programme, which involves the schools, employers and parents to provide more work and training options for these students. And to try to further ensure as far as possible information transfer and a seamless transition from home to school, and school to work, and to facilitate that as much as we can. A fourth theme is about funding for skills training post-SPED. My Ministry has been working with MOE for the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) to be extended to special needs children following their graduation from SPED for skills development and further training to enhance their work capability. Like all other Singaporeans, persons with disabilities will also be able to tap on SkillsFuture when they reach 25 years of age for continuing professional development training to remain relevant in the workforce. For many with special abilities, they can gain new skills and to be relevant in the workforce. I think we are making some progress on that front and I hope that we can extend that as much as possible. For many companies – and certainly for some sectors – we do not know what we do not know. When we actually look at how it is being done elsewhere, sometimes abroad or sometimes in other industries, it surprises employers. "I did not realise that I can do that." And when that realisation happens, that opens a pathway for many other options to be developed. A fifth theme is about training and employment in general.”
“Campaigns play a part but there are also practical actions that can be undertaken, for example, promoting the employment of people with different abilities within the workspace. It goes a very long way in transforming the cultures of the companies. In fact, many of the companies which have embraced this have shared with us that what they have found to have changed is the climate within the companies. When you have fellow Singaporeans with different abilities within your ranks and they go out of the way to accommodate and to adjust what they do, they find that it softens the work culture. I think that is the kind of Page: 67 transformative effect that we hope to see at the workplace, in schools and beyond. And slowly, hopefully, a tipping point can be reached. A second theme is really about providing support to special needs children in mainstream schools. There are over 20,000 children with special needs attending mainstream MOE schools and these children are supported in various ways. Allied Educators provide learning and behavioural support to students with mild educational needs, such as dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). And all schools have a core group of teachers trained to support students with special needs. In addition, a number of schools in each cluster are resourced with disabled-friendly facilities and programmes to support students with hearing impairments, visual impairments and physical disabilities. The third theme is post-18 options for special needs children. What happens when the formal schooling ends? This is something that weighs on the minds of all parents who have special needs children.”
“It is about all of us being included in the process of welcoming other Singaporeans on board because, without the effort of all of us, this cannot happen. Allow me to take the opportunity to provide an overview of the concerns and issues and where we are as a society, and let me cover some of the main themes. First, the issue of awareness within the community of persons with disabilities. Clearly, from the survey done by the Lien Foundation and certainly from the surveys done by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) as well, it shows that while we have made progress and while many Singaporeans do express concerns about these issues, whether we actually walk the talk or not does not always reflect what we say. As we work towards the vision of an inclusive society, community acceptance is essential and public education efforts will play a very important part. I totally agree with the Member – you cannot legislate these things. In fact, when you legislate, sometimes, it may get in the way because it forces people to begin to just follow the letter of the law without changing the spirit of it. A lot of interactions actually come not from the formal interactions but out of day-to-day interactions which you cannot formally legislate. It is about a change in mindset; it is about a change in climate that we need to effect in our society. Recently, we launched a campaign called the "We are Able" campaign and the "See the True Me" campaign by NCSS. These are essentially aimed at helping to raise awareness about the abilities and contributions of persons with disabilities. We do need to create an environment where persons with disabilities can live enabled lives.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to thank the Member for his feedback and the concerns that have been raised regarding the needs of caregivers and persons with disabilities. My Ministry, together with the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and SG Enable, has been conducting ground consultations as part of our Enabling Masterplan 3 and also other focus groups which we carry out throughout the year to find out more about the needs of persons with disabilities and also that of their caregivers. Through these sessions, we have developed a reasonably decent understanding of the concerns and challenges faced by caregivers in providing care for their loved ones, and the feedback provided by Mr Murali is consistent with those inputs. There is a range of other issues that many families are concerned about as well. I would like to take this opportunity to update the House and members of the public because it is an area that is vitally important for us. While we have made important progress in the past several years, there is still a lot more that we can do. We will continue to improve and expand services to meet the needs of persons with disabilities and their caregivers. Certainly, this is a very important focus for my Ministry, especially as we address these issues in the Enabling Masterplan 3. But I would say this: in order for the Government to be able to move forward, we cannot do it alone. It really requires the whole community to be involved – the VWOs, private organisations and individuals. When we talk about building an inclusive society, it is not just about bringing on board different Singaporeans with different abilities and to help them be included in the rest of society and in what we do.”
“(proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“Many of us whose children have grown up or continued to grow up, obviously, we do miss those days when they were toddlers and, each stage, as it moves on, does not ever come back and these will become memories for life, and it is important for us to be there to cherish it when those memories are created. So, it is important for us to be more active and to play a vigilant role. But we can also take heart that what we have done, when we have done what we can to expose our children to the right values, while there is no guarantee in terms of outcomes but, at least, we have given it our best shot and it is a continuing lifelong journey that we journey with our children. Mdm Speaker, the Government, together with the community and the individual, must continue to build strong families because, ultimately, as we look at building our nation, we talk about looking forward to SG100, there are many, many different things that we need to do. But we all know that the building blocks of any nation really lies with the individuals and the families. If we have strong families, it gives us a reason to be anchored here, it gives us a reason to build a better future. This is not just for ourselves but it is really very much for our families, for our children, and for their children in turn. We will continue as much as we can to create a pro-family environment for families, and to also support the more vulnerable in our society. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Tan Chuan-Jin].”
“The Government will do its part by continuing to support parents through leave schemes and promoting a pro-family workplace. This includes encouraging employers to adopt family-friendly practices, such as providing flexible work arrangements. On the point of active fatherhood, Mr Louis Ng shared passionately about his experiences, and many of us here who are parents would fully understand his sentiments. The amendments tabled today are in support of parenthood. He shared with us what Jill Smokler had to say about this journey. My challenge to fellow fathers is to find this out for ourselves. There are no shortcuts and we should spend time and effort to be good fathers. Active fatherhood is a personal commitment. I personally believe that it is not just about quality time, but it is also about quantity time. We must try to be present in our children's lives as much as possible. We can do all we can in terms of schemes, in terms of measures to support. But many of us will also know that we do have choices to make. Oftentimes, we cite reasons like work and so on. But sometimes, we are also distracted by our own preoccupations. The question is: are we prepared to put in the sacrifices? Are we prepared to put in the time? Instead of spending time with our friends watching football somewhere else, spending time with children and so on and so forth. And I think as we scroll down and actually study the kind of commitments that we are committed to and we find ourselves busy with, we will find that there are things there that we can actually choose to forgo in favour of time spent with family. Mr Louis Ng hit the nail on the head when he shared that the time with our children is precious.”
“But having said, we do recognise that situations do happen and we want to support the children and we do want to support the families. For vulnerable, low-income unwed parents who need more assistance, my Ministry and the NCSS will work with relevant VWOs and agencies to strengthen support for them and their families. Previously, many of us here, as MPs, we will meet some of our residents who fall under difficult circumstances and unwed mums. And notwithstanding the fact that there were some differences in some of those various benefits, there is always wholehearted support in terms of providing for them when they do need that help. Members will also remember that we are starting the KidSTART programme that I shared in Parliament last month. Through this programme, we will proactively identify low-income and vulnerable children aged six and below, and many of these would include children of unwed parents. That is a very substantive effort and I hope that this is something that would take off because I think it will have a significant impact over the long haul. Mr Louis Ng has supported the amendment to allow employers and self-employed persons to claim reimbursement and loss of income, respectively, for the second week of paternity leave. In fact, he would like employers to actively encourage their employees to take it. I could not agree more. For the employers who have been doing so, you have the Government's support; we will fully fund this leave, as long as you grant it. More importantly, the support you give your staff to better manage their work-life responsibilities will enhance their loyalty and productivity as well. Employers who go the extra mile will also attract talent, especially in today's tight labour market.”
“Lastly, it is also important for us to remember that we do want to encourage families to have children within the confines of parenthood and within the confines of marriage. I think this is to the prevailing prevalent social norm and we all would agree that it is always best for children to grow up in that environment and that is something we want to continue to encourage. I think we have said this several times, but I would like to repeat this here again that it is important to note that while there might be some differentiation for unwed parents, the children of these unwed parents do continue to be provided for on many fronts. It would be not correct to say that they are deprived of everything else. Yes, there are some differences. We have equalised some of it in my recent moves. But I want to emphasise that we do want to support the growth and development of all Singapore Citizen children, regardless of the marital status of their parents. For example, the benefits include education, healthcare subsidies, MediSave grant for newborns, centre-based infant and childcare subsidies and foreign domestic worker levy concession. All working parents, regardless of their marital status, are also eligible for infant care leave, childcare leave before the child turns seven, and extended childcare leave when the child is seven to 12 years old. And this has been the case for some time. While we do what we can for the children, we do think that we must continue to try and encourage and support parenthood within the confines of marriage. This is the prevailing social norm. Many of us would agree that it would always be ideal if children can grow up within the confines of that.”
“In fact, in the Deputy Prime Minister's opening remarks at the Parliamentary debate on the Population White Paper on 4 February 2013, he said, "In the short term, I hope our birth rate can increase to at least 1.4 or 1.5", which was our birth rate not so long ago, around the late-1990s and the early-2000s. This is something that we intend to do. I do call on all Members in this House who still have some way to go in terms of contributing to the data, well, please. I would imagine Mr Louis Ng and Ms Tin Pei Ling would help us on that front as well. It is something that we all have a part to play. In terms of environment and culture, it is not something that is just mandated by the Government. It is something that is created by all of us as well. Societal attitudes really are a sum total of individual attitudes. We all have a part to play. So, let us all chip in. I am also very heartened to hear from both Mr Louis Ng and Assoc Prof Daniel Goh on their support of the extension of the Child Development Co-Saving Scheme to children of unwed parents. We know that this has been an issue that many have been championing for some time. It is something I personally felt very strongly about. I have noted that they would like the Government to extend to unwed mothers the same high level of support we give to married mothers on all fronts. But before I address this point, let me reiterate the key principles underlying our decision for the review on support for unwed parents. Firstly, the benefits extended must directly contribute to the child's development or caregiving needs. So, that is one motivating reason. Secondly, the benefits must also support the unwed parent's efforts to provide for the child.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank Mr Louis Ng and Assoc Prof Daniel Goh for supporting this Bill. I would like to quickly address the point on TFR. We have all been concerned about our birth rates for quite some time. There are many different reasons behind this. We are not the only country that is affected by it. I would like to assure the Members of this House that we are fully committed to exploring all possible ways. Many of the suggestions come from both sides of the House and many members of the public out there. And many ideas, many different suggestions; some initiatives are carried out in other countries; some have worked better; some have not worked as well. Sometimes, it is also contextual and depending on the cultural context. Broadly, we do want to look at not just carrots and sticks, but really the overall environment is important. Ultimately, the last and final step must be taken by individuals and their families. What we can do is to provide as supportive an environment as possible. As whether we are reactive or not, I am also hopeful. The rates have marginally increased. We hope that they can be sustained. The approach that we have taken really is not about being reactive. I think the reactive part happened quite some time ago and we saw the trends turning into the direction which we were not quite happy with. And it is a series of measures. Each time, as we see the effect and if it did take effect, we continued to calibrate and improve. And this journey will continue. I would like to assure Assoc Prof Daniel Goh that our target is indeed to try to move up to 1.4 and 1.5.”
“This is to enable them to make better-informed decisions to improve their financial and family stability and, ultimately, enhance their child's outcomes. In conclusion, these legislative amendments are needed to carry out the enhancements that had been announced earlier at NDR 2015 as well as COS 2016. I do seek Parliament's agreement for the amendments, so that we can support families where it matters most. With that, Madam, I beg to move. [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)]”
“Employers will still be reimbursed for leave taken from 24 August 2015 to 30 June 2016. Members will also remember Senior Minister of State Josephine Teo announcing at the National Population and Talent Division's (NPTD) Committee of Supply (COS) last month that this second week of paternity leave will be mandated from 1 January 2017. This will be done in the next round of amendments to the Child Development Co-savings Act (CDCA), together with the enhancements to the other leave schemes announced at NPTD's COS. Separately, as announced at my Ministry's COS last month, we will extend the Child Development Account (CDA) benefits to Singaporean children of unwed parents. This includes the $3,000 CDA First Step grant. Children of unwed parents may be disadvantaged and require more support. The Child Development Co-Savings Scheme encourages unwed parents to contribute to the child's CDA for his or her development needs, and the amount will be matched by the Government up to a cap. As CDA funds can only be used for approved educational and healthcare-related uses for the child, this can help to enhance the child's outcomes. We are doing up the system enhancement concurrently for this to kick in, likely for children born from the third quarter of this year. Unwed mothers will also qualify for the full 16 weeks of maternity leave for children born from early next year. The longer paid leave will provide unwed mothers with more time to care for their child in the early months. This provision will be included in the next round of CDCA amendments. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) will also work with the relevant VWOs and agencies to strengthen support for families with vulnerable, low-income unwed mothers.”
“Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time". Singapore is our home for family. Strong families are, and must remain, the basic building blocks of our society. For each of our families and our society, children are our future. With strong families and good support from society, our children can have a good start in life. In the coming years, my Ministry will continue to strengthen fundamental family relationships and support vulnerable families. Fathers play an important role in parenting, and shared parental responsibility should become a way of life in our society. During last year's National Day Rally (NDR), our Prime Minister said that eligible fathers may be granted an extra week of paid paternity leave, with their employers' approval. Employers who agree to grant this extra week of leave to employees may seek reimbursement from the Government. This is on top of the one week of paternity leave we have today, which is compulsory and which the Government pays for. To celebrate the Jubilee year, we had extended the extra week of paid leave to all fathers of Singaporean babies born on or after 1 January 2015. This additional week should allow fathers to be more active in raising their children. The Public Service took the lead by implementing this immediately. Since the NDR announcement on 23 August 2015, enlightened employers have been granting their employees the extra week of paternity leave. This Bill allows employers to seek reimbursement for the leave taken by eligible employees. Eligible self-employed persons can likewise claim the loss of income from the Government for the additional week of leave taken. The reimbursement can take place from 1 July 2016, when the system is ready.”
“As we increase the number of places in terms of capacity in the schools, we do need to recruit more teachers. We have put in place a wide range of initiatives. We are tracking that carefully. It is predicated on people responding. The response has been positive thus far, but we are tracking it very closely. If, for whatever reason, the response is not as strong as we would like it to be, we do have various levers to adjust and to make sure that we will be on track to meet the demands of the people in order to make sure that their children are educated. Page: 124”
“Chairman, right now, we are looking at those aged six and below. If there are particular cases that Dr Lily Neo would like to raise for consideration, we will take a look at them. But KidSTART is just a particular programme. It does not preclude the whole series of different outreach efforts that we have that are already on-going. Some of it may be eligible. Perhaps, to reinforce the response given earlier to Assoc Prof Daniel Goh, the whole idea with the set-up of the SSO is to forward-deploy a lot of our SSOs upfront, especially to deal with complex cases. If I may also add, we do not have one definition of poverty per se and many of us encounter them in many, many different circumstances. If you use the analogy of social safety nets, what we have is a series of safety nets at different levels for different groups. What you want to make sure is, within each net, it is interwoven enough so that it is tight. And between the nets, you make sure that the gaps are not there. And especially, using the analogy of a trampoline, these nets are also to help you to be able to stand. That is really important. Page: 123 In the cases where they fall outside of that particular definition of, say, aged six and below, we will look at them. If there are needs, I think we will endeavour to see how best to address those needs.”
“I am very passionate about this because, to me, what is important is that each and every one of us plays a part. We are all touchpoints of the people around us. 7.30 pm If you see any of them having difficulties, be it financially or socially, please find ways to get them to the SSOs for help. If you cannot find where the SSOs are, remember this number: 1800 222 0000. This becomes very handy. I am very serious here because when it comes to issues like these, it means a lot to our residents who need help.”
“Where parents are not cooperative, we will work with them to, hopefully, turn them round. Where they still choose not to work with us, then we will have to see whether the children are being neglected and further measures need to be taken. Page: 122 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong: Thank you, Chairman. I also thank the Parliamentary Secretary. Many advanced countries have a clear definition of graduation from relative poverty because they have a relative poverty line and they check the progress of their welfare schemes. I would like to ask what is the Ministry's working definition of self-reliance since that is the objective of ComCare assistance. Does the Ministry track how many beneficiaries become self-reliant at the end of the assistance? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: As I have said earlier in my answer, realistically, due to the complexity of the cases and the different needs, you realise that each individual and family's graduation refers to different forms of graduation. Our approach is actually to uplift everyone, whether someone is poor or in need of help, to better their lives. As Members of Parliament, we have come across many cases whereby we have helped them and seen their lives improve, day after day. Nevertheless, if you go back to the notion of having a clear, clean definition, you realise it does not work that way on the ground. You realise that there are people, even though you have helped, who seem to be able to do better now, but they still need help, because they need the support not only for themselves but also for their families. That is why in my answer earlier, I shared that there is no clear definition of graduation because, on the ground, we see the different complexities, the different needs of families.”
“Mr Chairman, that is an important question because, as I have mentioned, in many of these various initiatives, whether it is KidSTART or in other ideas in terms of supporting families and individuals, it really does depend on the individual responding. We do know from our experience that not every individual responds. The children are usually innocent in the process. Parents, sometimes, may not be very cooperative for a host of reasons. We endeavour to try to understand, which is why a lot of this work is very, very labour-intensive. Some of the work that we do is almost one-to-one. Some of our social workers are spending almost sometimes five to seven days a week on the job, because they are not only just spending time with the child, they are spending time with the family. In cases where families do not respond, this is where we also need to take a look at whether it falls into the realms of neglect for the child. If the family is in a particularly vulnerable situation, children are not going to school for a host of reasons when they should be, and we are working with the parents and they are not responding, would this be a situation where Child Protection needs to be activated and it needs to come in? As I have mentioned earlier, we do recognise, philosophically, it is always best to be with the birth family even though it may be imperfect. There are circumstances that we take children away as well and that is why fostering becomes important. This is why institutional care, sometimes, also becomes important. It is frightfully difficult and very emotive, but it is something we are struggling with. It is a very difficult area of work for our officers but we are working very closely to see how best to address this. It is a valid question.”
“Mr Chairman, we do endeavour to provide as best support as possible to parents. We do recognise, especially at the infant stage, that it is challenging because it is very labour-intensive. We do also recognise that many different groups are exploring the possibility of informal arrangements. Informal arrangements already take place today. We are in the midst of exploring what are the various possibilities, so if there are community groups that have ground-up initiatives, do let us know and we can take a look at how we can extend support if possible. We are also working our way around this together with NPTD in terms of how best to approach this particular space.”
“Mr Chairman, for the areas of change for single unwed moms, it applies to all single unwed moms, regardless of their degree of vulnerability. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: For the first question, we will take it back. For the second one, with regard to the Special Needs Trust Company Limited (SNTC), beyond the trust relating to the financial aspect, we also look at other aspects in terms of accommodation and in terms of some of the social requirements. These are the things that we will continue to improve on as we move along. I would like to assure the Member that we are looking at this seriously to see how we can bring in permanency planning with regard to their lives. Page: 121”
“We work with the Central Singapore CDC, VWOs, Manpower Groups Singapore and so on, and the number of participants has increased from 4,500 in 2013 to 6,000 in 2015. If you look around this month, you will see structures and also buildings going blue. This is a symbol of the autism movement. Buildings like the National Gallery, Helix Bridge, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and St Andrew's Cathedral. We want to really make it pervasive. What we have seen is that we have done a lot as a society. In the words of my Minister in the Enabling Masterplan 2 progress report, he said, "The direction is clear and there is no turning back. We will keep up the momentum." So, we will do more together as a society.”